Boys 'scared and sad' while lost in bushland
FIRST ON 7: A Queensland grandmother has thanked rescuers who found her grandson and his friend after they became lost in bushland near Townsville.
Nicholas Baxter, 6, and Timmy Carter, 5, went missing on Saturday afternoon after going on an 'adventure' on their scooter and tricycle.
The boys were found more than 24 hours later following a desperate search.
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Jacquie Henderson says the little boys were very scared during the ordeal and have learnt their lesson not to wander off.
“It was a camp out type thing, two little boys having an adventure and it went wrong,” she told 7News.
The search effort involved SES crews, rescue helicopters, police and about 100 soldiers from a nearby defence base.
“They were just scared…They wanted to come home," Ms Henderson said.
“[Timmy] was crying for mum, he wanted to come home."
They were found by soldiers around 2pm (AEST) on Sunday.
Both of them where wearing no shoes and Timmy had no shirt on.
Ms Henderson said the little boy's family's were incredibly grateful.
“There were people out, young and old, kids, families, everything and it was really, really great,” she told 7News.
“It just goes to show in Townsville, we pull together and we're Queenslanders.”
Acting Inspector Chris Lawson said Nicholas was found first.
"At that point he was ecstatic to see people and he wouldn't be quiet, he kept talking and telling them about what had been going on,” he said.
Timmy was found about an hour later.
Inspector Lawson said police will talk to the families about the incident but the priority was ensuring the boys were well.
"We're talking about a five- and a six-year-old who went on a misadventure," he said.
"We are going to follow up with what occurred but at this point they're young kids and we want to make sure they're okay."
The boys' mothers said in a statement on Monday they were "overwhelmed" with the support from the community while they anxiously awaited news of their sons.
"We cannot express in words the relief and joy we feel having our boys back in our arms," they said.
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
News break - May 18
